Katie Boulter: Emma Raducanu Will Be Welcomed 바카라�With Open Arms바카라� By GB Team-Mates

Emma Raducanu will be welcomed back into Great Britain바카라�s Billie Jean King Cup team 바카라�with open arms바카라�, according to Katie Boulter. (More Sports News)

The former US Open champion will play just her second tie for her country this week in France, two years after making her debut against the Czech Republic.

Injuries have prevented Raducanu from being involved in the intervening ties, and she indicated at the Australian Open that she would prioritise her health this year when considering whether to play.

But, with the tie on indoor clay, the same surface as her next WTA tournament in Stuttgart next week, Raducanu will join Boulter, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and debutant Francesca Jones in Le Portel.

Boulter, who is a brand ambassador for Lexus, told the PA news agency: 바카라�I바카라�m very pleased. We바카라�ve missed her. We love having her back."

바카라�Obviously the number one thing is that she바카라�s healthy. I바카라�ve always said it for myself and my biggest wish for her as well is that she can stay as healthy as possible. We바카라�re going to be welcoming her with open arms for sure.바카라�

At 302, Raducanu is the lowest-ranked member of Anne Keothavong바카라�s team, with Boulter at 28 and Dart also in the top 100, but it would be a major surprise if she was left on the bench for the tie on Friday and Saturday.

Raducanu won one of her two matches on her debut and showed promise in her first campaign on clay, traditionally the weakest surface for British players, two years ago.

Keothavong바카라�s side are undoubtedly underdogs, particularly having lost to France at the same stage last year on hard courts in Coventry.

The home side are led by world number 23 Caroline Garcia, who recently defeated Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka on her way to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, and Boulter said: 바카라�It바카라�s a brutal match-up.

바카라�We바카라�ve already been in this place before and we had it at home. I think if anything it could help us, we are completely the underdogs. I think we바카라�ve got a free swing.

바카라�Garcia is clearly playing some very good tennis right now. But it바카라�s another Billie Jean King Cup tie, anything can happen."

바카라�We바카라�ve got to keep it very realistic, it바카라�s everyone바카라�s first week on clay. It바카라�s not my favourite surface but I바카라�m very excited to get on it. I think we will come together as a team and keep trying to push each other and I바카라�m sure we바카라�ll play some really good tennis.바카라�

Raducanu바카라�s presence represents a boost for Britain compared to last year, as does the rapid rise of Boulter, who at 27 has surged into the top 30 for the first time.

The Leicestershire player lifted her second, and biggest, WTA Tour title at the San Diego Open last month and has won more matches against top-50 opponents in the first three months of 2024 than in the rest of her career combined.

바카라�It바카라�s been a little bit of a whirlwind,바카라� said Boulter. 바카라�In some aspects I바카라�m surprised, in other aspects I바카라�m not surprised at all, which shows that I바카라�ve really put a lot of work in and I feel like I바카라�m going in the right direction."

바카라�I am very realistic at the same time. Not everything바카라�s going to click every week. I think that바카라�s where, going into the next part of the season (on clay), I바카라�ve got a free swing, because it바카라�s obviously something I바카라�m not used to."

바카라�It바카라�s something fresh and exciting but this last month has been a massive, massive leap for me.바카라�

The winners of the tie will qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville in November.